Tag Archives: Leeds

Virtual Migrants collective has been working hard on a touring poetical musical digital mash-up theatrical production that connects austerity, refugees and climate justice. We’ve been in rigorous rehearsals upping our performance game in song, poetry, story-telling and even a lil slice of grime. Guided by the calm soul energy wisdom of Amanda Huxtable the show is now ready for the road.

Blurb about the show and tour dates are below.

A story told through poetry, music and digital-media connecting legacies of inequality to climate change. Touring Oct-Dec 2015: Manchester, London, Liverpool, Huddersfield, Leeds and Leicester.

What is CONTINENT CHOP CHOP?‘Continent Chop Chop’ is a touring transmedia production linking narratives of climate change to the broader issues of poverty, race and social justice. Using interwoven narratives portrayed through music, poetry, and projected imagery, it will ask:

Who controls the narrative of climate change?

What are the connections between climate change and poverty?

How does the wider climate of austerity and scapegoating of migrants connect with climate change?

And why should anyone care when they don’t have enough to eat?

Drawing on diverse histories and narratives of climate justice from across the world, with music influenced by Afrobeat, experimental electronics, English Folk and deconstructed imperial and colonial anthems.

Featuring commissioned work from guest artists:

Nnimmo Bassey, a leading environmental activist who has won a number of awards and has played leading roles in Friends Of The Earth International, Oilwatch Africa and the Global South Network.

I’ve been poeting in schools recently. A common corridor conversation has run like this:

Pupil: Cool hair sir!Me: Thank you, I grew it myselfPupil: Ooh, you think I could do mine like that sir?Me: Well, you could do…Pupil: How long does it take you to get it like that sir?Me: It did take a few years…Pupil: Can I touch your hair sir?Me: No.Pupil: Are you from Jamaica sir?Me: No, but my dad’s from Barbados.Pupil: ?Me: Barbados? Where Rihanna’s from…Pupil: Aw, wow, do you know Rihanna sir!?

I don’t know Rihanna.
I do know and have been blessed to link with several other Bajan artists who do not receive Rhi Rhi’s international acclaim however. One of the foremost griots, Adrian Green breaks down why “if you’s an artist that really really keep it real, you set yourself up to fail” in his epic poetic ‘Hard Ears’ which in nine minutes does more to enlighten on the state of contemporary Bajan culture and society than nine years, nine albums, nine lives of catchy polished “jam and wine” ever could:

Props due to Rihanna (and latterly Cover Drive) for putting Barbados on the map for the few culturally-deprived pupils in Rotherham, Doncaster, Sheffield I encountered – yet there is of course a whole cohobblopot of enriching nutrition Continue reading →